Beijing has completed a forestation program along major rivers and artery highways in the city by spending 1.19 billion yuan on the plantation of 33,379,000 trees in the past five years.

    According to the Beijing Municipal Forestation Bureau, upon the completion of the massive tree-planting project, Beijing has had 1,035 kilometers of green passages that run through various parts of the city and link Beijing with outside places. The total area of green belts along the roads and rivers topped 25,700 hectares.

    The five rivers covered by forestation program are Yongding River, Chaobai River, Dasha River, Wenyu River and Beiyun River. The artery highways flanked by trees include Beijing-Shijiazhuang Superhighway, Beijing-Kaifeng Superhighway, Beijing-Tianjin-Tangu Superhighway, Beijing-Shenyang Superhighway, Shunyi-Pinggu Superhighway, Beijing-Chengde Superhighway, Beijing-Zhangjiakou Superhighway and the Sixth Ring Road. Two railways, Beijing-Jiujiang and Datong-Qinhuangdao, are also lined with groves.

    Su Mei, vice director of Beijing Municipal Forestation Bureau, said the 'Five Rivers and Ten Roads' Green Passage Project will increase forested areas in Beijing by 3.5%, adding 1.4 percentage points to the city proper. The project is to enrich Beijing's natural scenery and improve the environment of the capital city.